The Negotiation,
Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding Program involves a comprehensive study of
applied methods, theory, and research and a choice of various electives
covering a wide range of applicable subjects. For example these areas deal with
the concerns of counselors, law enforcement, teachers, social workers,
therapists, and court personnel, benefit labor, human resources, and management
professionals, are appropriate for individuals interested in careers in
government, public interest groups, organizations (profit and non-profit), or
as lobbyists, and are of interest to those seeking careers in the foreign
service, the military, as well as international business and peace
organizations. This degree also is offered online through distance learning
delivery.

Undergraduate

Features

The Bachelor of
Arts in Negotiation, Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding is designed to be an
interdisciplinary, thoroughly diversity-oriented, Undergraduate Degree Program
in Negotiation, Conflict resolution and Peacebuilding with an emphasis on: (1)
intercultural communication, (2) the role of women in culture, (3) mediation,
and (4) the unique perspectives, fundamentals, theories, and research methods
in Negotiation, Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding studies. The undergraduate major will provide a
companion to the current NCRP Graduate program as a natural degree progression
to pipeline students from the high school learning academies. The NCRP program
has joint 3+3 option/concentration with
ABA
accredited Southwestern Law School. Students in this option/concentration
complete 30 units of free electives selected by the student as the students first year curriculum of
Southwestern
Law
School
in order to also satisfy the undergraduate major requirements. Students
electing the "3+3" modified program will be advised during their
first year concerning necessary curriculum adjustments.

Graduate

Admission Requirements

Individuals with a
bachelor's degree in any major and a GPA of 3.20 or above (4-point scale) in
the last 60 semester or 90 quarter units of upper division course work from any
accredited college or university may apply for admission to the degree program
with classified status. Individuals with a master's degree in conflict
resolution (or a closely related area) from any accredited college or
university may apply for admission to the post-master's certificate program.
All applicants must submit the standard admission application by May 1 for
admission in the subsequent August, and by November 1 for admission in the
subsequent January. Currently the program does not require the Graduate Record
Examination. However, the program requires a 500-word biographical essay, and three letters of recommendation. The biographical statement and letters of
recommendation must address:
(1) what in the applicant's background indicates this subject matter is
appropriate for this applicant, (2) why applicant desires this degree or
certificate and (3) what does applicant plan to do with this degree or
certificate once obtained. The biographical essay and letters of recommendation
should be forwarded to the program director. Applicants will be selected to
fill the vacancies in the program on the basis of grade point average (if
applicable) and an evaluation of the biographical statement and letters of
recommendation and may be required to participate in an oral interview. There
is an opportunity to pursue a joint JD/MA cooperation with
Southwestern
Law
School.
Students interested in pursuing this opportunity should consult with the program
director prior to commencement of their first semester as a graduate student.

Program

Once admitted,
students must complete their program (degree or certificate) with a grade point
average of at least 3.2. All courses used to fulfill the requirements for the
master's degree or the certificate must be passed with a grade of "B" or
better. Subject to approval of the program director, no more than 10 units
total can be included from other departments or universities, or be completed
prior to formal admission to the master's degree program and 5 units for the
post-master's certificate. Students must be in continuous attendance as defined
elsewhere in this University Catalog. No course completed as part of another
degree, and no course completed more than 5 years before the date of graduation
date, can be included toward the master's degree or certificate.

Each year the
entering class for the degree or certificate program will be placed in a cohort
for on campus education and a cohort for distance learning delivery. The
program for each cohort will be designed for the orderly progression through
the designated courses for the degree or certificate. The program for
applicants admitted concerning the post-master's Certificate in Conflict
Analysis and Resolution will be designed as dictated by the number of students
entering this cohort annually.

Students for the
master's degree must meet the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR)
by scoring 8 or above on University Graduation Writing Examination (GWE) or by
earning at least a "B" in an approved course as described in the University
Catalog.

All other university
requirements specified in this University Catalog must be met (see the Graduate
Degrees and Postbaccalaureate Studies section).

Incomplete Courses

Students have one year to remove incomplete courses from their record,
after which a failing grade automatically will be assigned. In rare cases such
as a lengthy documented hospital stay, extensions might be granted by the
program director. Students will not be permitted to enroll in new courses if
they have two or more incomplete courses on their record. A grade of Incomplete may be assigned by the
instructor if a student is unable to complete a balance of course work that
shall not exceed 50% of that required in the syllabus. The instructor may make exception in
well-documented cases of family or medical hardship.

Credit by Examination

Courses in the
Negotiation, Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding Program depend to a large
degree on simulations, team learning, discussion, and papers growing out of
these experiences. Therefore, credit by examination is not available.

Graduation

Students must
complete a Graduation Application (available from the Registrar) and a Program
Approval Form (available from the program office) according to the deadlines
given in the graduate section of this University Catalog under "Application for
Graduation". The Program Approval Form specifies the courses to be counted toward
graduation, and insures that all students are Classified and Advanced to
Candidacy. This applies to both the master's degree and the post-master's
certificate programs.

Advising

Faculty usually
schedule office hours immediately before classes. The days and hours for each
faculty member may change from one semester to another, but are posted on their
office doors. Faculty are available during office hours for advising on all
aspects of the courses taught by them. Career, housing, personal, and other
types of advising are best pursued through special offices for these purposes
listed elsewhere in the University Catalog. The program director should be
consulted regarding general academic program advising.

The Negotiation,
Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding Student and Alumni Association provides a
means for students and alumni of the program to exchange ideas and job
information and to extend their social and professional contacts. Students are
strongly encouraged to join and participate.

See the
"Requirements for the Bachelor's Degree" in the University Catalog for complete
details on general degree requirements. A minimum of 40 units, including those
required for the major, must be upper division.

Elective Requirements

Elective units (12) will be necessary to satisfy the requirement that
the student satisfactorily completes an overall minimum number of 120
units. While students will be permitted
to make their own decision concern selection of electives, courses such as the
following (existing and proposed) will be available choices for those who
prefer to pursue further the interdisciplinary and diversity-oriented emphasis
of this degree program.

1. NCR 595 Seminar in
Special Topics (1-3) is offered as an elective on a selected basis, no one
topic to exceed six units.

2. Failure to satisfy
the GWAR by the completion of the first semester of the student's enrollment in
the program may prevent the student from continuing in the program until
satisfaction of the requirement.

The certificate
program is designed for graduates of the NCRP MA Degree program (or a closely
related field) interested in developing specialized skills useful in their
field of choice for specialization through advanced comprehensive understanding
of their topic or in further graduate work.

A. Required Course (6 units):

NCR
529. Internship: Conflict Resolution (3, 3)

B. Specific program design created with an
additional 12 units from among the following courses.

1. With the exception of
NCR 529, no course taken as part of the NCRP MA degree may be taken again for
the NCRP post-master's certificate.

2. With respect to NCR
529, the same internship used for the course as part of the NCRP MA degree may
not be used for the certificate.

3. NCR 595 Seminar in
Special Topics is offered as an optional course tailored to a student's
specific interests on a selected basis, no one topic to exceed six units.

Course Offerings

The credit value
for each course in semester units is indicated for each term by a number in
parentheses following the title. For course availability, please see the list
of tentative course offerings in the current Class Schedule.

Lower Division

NCR 289 Key Issues in Peacebuilding (3).

Introduction to
theories of peace, conflict and violence. Emphasis is on interdisciplinary character of peacebuilding and
application of theories and methods. Students gain understanding of the nature of social conflict, causes of
violence and the meanings of peacebuilding.

NCR 290 Introduction to Negotiation Theory (3).

Prerequisites:
Sophomore standing and instructor approval.

Consideration of
theories used in bargaining at all levels of society to understand why
negotiation is the underlying art in human affairs. Students will acquire
ability to appropriately select and apply tools on negotiation to conflict
resolution and peacebuilding.

NCR 291 Psychology of Peacebuilding (3).

Examines how
psychological processes, cognitive and emotional, individual and collective,
combine with external factors in causing violence. How these psychological insights can help
prevent and resolve violent conflicts is examined through consideration of
peacebuilding approaches.

Upper Division

NCR 387 Environment and Peacebuilding (3).

Peacebuilding and conflict transformation combine with ecology and in
an effort to reconsider the human relationship system as it combines with our
environment. Explores how society might
foster environmental improvements and sustainable development to achieve
successful peacebuilding goals.

NCR 390 Fundamentals of Conflict Resolution and
Peacebuilding (3).

Prerequisite: NCR
290.

Consideration of conflict resolution, war, peace and the global
system, as well as cross-cultural issues and methods for resolution of
conflicts specific to those issues.

Instructs in strategic research approaches used to develop new tools,
methods or projects for analysis emphasizing theoretical, analytical, research
and practical skills in writing and critical thinking in the field of
negotiation, conflict resolution and peacebuilding.

NCR 410 NCRP Pedagogy (3).

Prerequisites:
NCR 290, NCR 390, and NCR 405.

Preparation for application of knowledge of negotiation, conflict
resolution, and peacebuilding in school settings. Explores pedagogies
appropriate for the development of conflict resolution skills and techniques as
basis for both elective and prescriptive training modules.

Examines individual group values and perspectives in relation to
negotiation, conflict resolution and peacebuilding processes, with special
emphasis on analyzing third party intervener's ethical responsibilities and
dilemmas. Case studies used to examine and formulate ethical approaches to
critical issues.

Considers various research methods to be used in negotiation, conflict
resolution and peacebuilding. Covers research design and the tools needed to
conduct basic independent research. Students develop a compelling research
proposal addressing questions of importance to them.

NCR 508 Communication and Conflict (3).

Prerequisite: NCR
500, 503 and 504.

Emphasizes human communication in context of conflict. Addresses
challenges to effective communication caused by interpersonal, intrapersonal,
intergroup or intragroup conflict, and role of
communication in resolving such conflicts. Concentrates on methods of
communication most effective in dealing with differences.

Compulsory and noncompulsory arbitration of
grievances in public, private, corporate, labor, and international disputes.
Case studies explore the arbitration role in unique settings.

NCR 529 Internship: Conflict Resolution (3).

Prerequisites Requires approval of program director.

Students will work as interns in agencies in negotiation, conflict
resolution and/or peacebuilding, and will consult weekly with a faculty
supervisor. A total of 120 hours of
agency internship experience will be required to successfully complete the
course. An internship for the Post-NCRP
MA Certificate may not be the same as the internship used by the student for
NCR 529 as part of the NCRP MA Degree Program.

NCR 530 Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) (3).

Prerequisite:
Requires approval of program director.

Addresses emerging practice of conflict resolution in cyberspace. ODR
utilizes online resources as the "fourth party" collaborating with the
traditional third party in resolving conflicts more efficiently and less
expensively.

NCR 531 Marital and Family Mediation (3).

Prerequisite:
Requires approval of program director.

Separation problems in traditional and nontraditional relationships
such as property division and child custody. Legal, tax, and financial aspects.
The mediation process. Written and oral agreements.

NCR 532 Dispute Resolution Clinical Studies
(3).

Prerequisite:
Requires approval of program director.

Provides a forum in which all students, staff, and faculty can
creatively process and resolve conflict rather than allowing hostilities to
build toward violence or adjudication. Each semester, conducts a basic mediation skills training for campus and
surrounding communities.

NCR 533 Labor Conflict (3).

Prerequisite:
Requires approval of program director.

Case and historical studies in selected industries. Past, present, and
pending court decisions or national and state labor laws. Strategic planning
for labor organizations. The process of negotiating a labor contract. Grievance
and arbitration procedures.

NCR 535 Organizational Conflict (3).

Prerequisite:
Approval of program director.

Origin and types of conflicts which arise within and between complex
organizations. Positive and negative effects of Organizational conflict. Exploiting,
preventing, containing, escalating, and resolving conflict.

NCR 536 Dispute Resolution for Sports (3).

Prerequisite:
Approval of program director.

Examines sports law and dispute resolution utilizing particularly the
processes of arbitration and mediation. Focuses on players, owners, agents and
unions, as well as other areas of conflict such as free agency and player attitude
and disloyalty.

Study of selected international conflicts involving
complex issues such as culture, ethnicity, politics and religion. Considers
common misconceptions concerning diplomacy. Encourages students to appreciate
approaches to negotiation, conflict resolution and peacebuilding as vehicles
for successful grassroots impact on peace efforts.

The impact of system dynamics on conflict management in communities
from neighborhoods to nations. Implications of system dynamics for specifying
goals and planning interventions to achieve them, from pre-emptive to
corrective. Implications for training and organization.

NCR 541 Restorative Justice and Peacebuilding
(3).

Prerequisite:
Requires approval of program director.

Addresses respective needs of crime victims and offenders ignored by
criminal justice system and international community. Retribution abandoned in
favor of restorative model based on needs of victims, offenders and community,
achieved through application of conflict resolution and peacebuilding
processes.

NCR 542 Collaborative Law (3).

Prerequisite:
Requires approval of program director.

Lawyers' and clients' cooperative voluntary conflict resolution
process. Emphasizes shared belief that it is in best interest of parties to
avoid adversarial proceedings. Commitment to resolving differences with minimal
conflict and working together to create shared solutions to the issues.

NCR 543 Reducing School Violence Through Conflict
Resolution (3).

Prerequisite:
Requires approval of program director.

Practical strategies to teach students to be peacemakers to reduce
violence in schools. Discusses how schools can create cooperative learning
environment where students learn how to negotiate and mediate peer conflicts
and teachers use academic controversies to enhance learning.

NCR 544 Alternative Dispute Resolution
Processes (3).

Prerequisites:
NCR 500, NCR 503 and NCR 504.

Surveys a variety of process choices in dispute resolution.
Recognizing that litigation may not be appropriate in many cases. Course
examines alternatives such as negotiation, mini-trial, mediation, panel evaluation,
summary jury trial, private judging, arbitration, and use of special masters.

NCR 545 Intercultural Conflict Resolution (3).

Prerequisite:
Requires approval of program director.

Presents overview of intercultural communication negotiation and
conflict resolution. Emphasizes understanding of values of intercultural as
well as interreligious diversity in our increasingly interdependent world,
nation and local communities. Encourages awareness of cultural perspective and
socialization.

NCR 546 Conflict and the Media (3).

Prerequisite:
Requires approval program director.

Examines the role of mass media in conflict resolution and
peacebuilding, and its influence on world's most intractable conflicts as well
as support of peace initiatives. Considers how media can serve as part of the
problem or part of the solution.

NCR 591 Seminar: NCR Capstone Course (3).

Prerequisites:
All required and elective courses.

Course is designed to enable students to demonstrate integration of
knowledge of the field and critical and independent thinking. Preparation and
delivery (oral and written) of culminating event under supervision of
instructor. Faculty approval of written portfolio and successful oral defense required
for graduation. CR grade insufficient by
itself. CR/NC grading. Repeatable for
six units.

In consultation with a faculty member, completion of readings for
orientation to a little known topic; or as background for writing a thesis
proposal (the concept for which has previously been approved by the NCR program
director). CR/NC grading. Repeatable for total of six units.

Conduct of pilot studies, development of research instruments, or
similar independent research in preparation for the thesis, under the
supervision of a faculty member in any area of Negotiation, Conflict Resolution
and Peacebuilding. CR/NC grading.

In consultation with a faculty member, writing of a master's thesis in
Negotiation, Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding that has previously been
approved by the NCR program director. Then, if thesis approved by faculty and oral defense successful, three
units replace NCR 591 as culminating event. CR grade insufficient by itself. Choice of area requires prior approval of NCR program director. CR/NC grading.

NCR 600 Graduate Continuation Course (0).

Graduate students
who have completed their course work but not their culminating event or who
have other requirements remaining for the completion of their degree, may maintain continuous attendance by enrolling in
this course. Signature of graduate program director required.